Racer 75 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Racer 75 |
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Racer 75 lift hill when it was Rebel Yell in 2005
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| Previously known as Rebel Yell (1975-2017) | |||
| Kings Dominion | |||
| Park section | Candy Apple Grove | ||
| Coordinates | 37°50′13.5″N 77°26′41.8″W / 37.837083°N 77.444944°W | ||
| Status | {{{status}}} | ||
| Opening date | May 3, 1975 | ||
| General Statistics | |||
| Type | Wood – Racing | ||
| Manufacturer | Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters | ||
| Designer | John C. Allen | ||
| Track layout | Out and back | ||
| Lift/launch system | Chain | ||
| North | South | ||
| Height | 85 ft (25.9 m) | 85 ft (25.9 m) | |
| Drop | 81 ft (24.7 m) | 81 ft (24.7 m) | |
| Length | 3,368.5 ft (1,026.7 m) | 3,368.5 ft (1,026.7 m) | |
| Speed | 56 mph (90.1 km/h) | 56 mph (90.1 km/h) | |
| Inversions | 0 | 0 | |
| Duration | 2:15 | 2:15 | |
| Max vertical angle | 50° | 50° | |
| G-force | 4.2 | 4.2 | |
| Capacity | 1200 riders per hour | ||
| Height restriction | 48 in (122 cm) | ||
| Trains | 4 trains with 5 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows for a total of 30 riders per train. | ||
| Racer 75 at RCDB Pictures of Racer 75 at RCDB |
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Racer 75 is a classic wooden ride at Kings Dominion amusement park in Doswell, Virginia. It's a special type of coaster called a racing roller coaster, meaning it has two tracks that run side-by-side. This allows two trains to race each other!
The ride was designed by John C. Allen. It first opened in 1975, the same year the park opened. Back then, it was called Rebel Yell. In 2018, the name changed to Racer 75. This new name celebrates its racing style and the year it opened. It also gives a small nod to the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) club, which started at the park in 1978.
History of Racer 75
Racer 75 opened its doors as Rebel Yell when Kings Dominion first welcomed guests in 1975. Its original name was a reference to a famous shout used by soldiers during the Civil War.
Just two years after it opened, the roller coaster was featured in a movie! It appeared in the 1977 film Rollercoaster.
In 1992, something fun happened: the trains on one side of the ride were changed to run backwards! This was a unique experience for riders. People in the area even started calling this reversed version "Yell Rebel." However, in 2008, both sides were changed back to run forwards again.
For the park's 40th birthday in 2014, the trains got a fresh look. They were repainted red and blue, just like their original colors. Chasing lights were also added back to one side of the track.
Why the Name Changed
In 2018, the park decided to change the name from Rebel Yell to Racer 75. The old name had connections to the Confederate side of the Civil War. The new name, Racer 75, combines a few ideas:
- "Racer" shows that it's a racing roller coaster.
- "75" stands for 1975, the year the ride first opened.
- It also quietly honors the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) club. This club, for roller coaster fans, was founded at Kings Dominion in 1978.
The park didn't officially say why they changed the name. But it happened around the same time that many places in Virginia were discussing removing statues related to the Confederacy.
How Racer 75 is Designed
Racer 75 is a racing roller coaster. This means it has two separate tracks that are mirror images of each other. Imagine two identical tracks side-by-side!
Its design was inspired by another famous coaster called The Racer. That ride is at Kings Island, a sister park, and opened three years earlier in 1972.
There's a small difference between the two rides. On the original Racer, the tracks split apart further into the ride. But on Racer 75, the tracks stay together until the trains start to turn around.
Racer 75's design was also used for Thunder Road at Carowinds, which opened in 1976. That ride was even taller and faster than Racer 75, but it closed permanently in 2015.
The tracks of Racer 75 used to run next to a large man-made lake called Lake Charles. In the early 1990s, much of this lake was drained when the park built the Anaconda coaster.
Trains and Awards
Each side of Racer 75 has two trains: one red and one blue. So, there are a total of four trains for the ride. When the park runs only one train on each side, they try to make sure one is red and the other is blue.
On June 20, 2003, Racer 75 received a special honor. It was given the Coaster Landmark award by the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE). This award recognizes important and historic roller coasters.
